Google Snaps Up Gizmo5, Could Rival Skype In VoIP Game

It may sound somewhat wild, but Google could very well take over the
world. We know, you're thinking we're crazy, but the evidence is
mounting. It has taken over the search market (and improved usability
all the while), it has crafted its own mobile operating system (one
that actually rivals the mighty iPhone), it's currently developing its
own computer operating system in Chrome OS, it already has a Chrome web
browser that's easily better than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, it has
a chat tool that may trump Campfire in Google Wave, and now it's fixing
to replace your phone company. Who's laughing now, right?

Google's GrandCentral (and Google Voice) has already taken the
talkative generation by storm, providing forwarding numbers and the
like for anyone who applies and gets accepted. Evidently that's just
not good enough, as now it looks like Google has Skype in its sights as
the next major company it hopes to challenge. Skype has long since been
the go-to company for VoIP calling, and by and large, it's a great
application. But Google has just picked up a small outfit that was
doing VoIP long before VoIP was a buzzword: Gizmo5. Gizmo5 provides
Internet-based calling solutions for mobile phones and PCs, and while
Google isn't disclosing the purchase price nor any official plans for
the acquisition, it has noted that it will be bringing some Gizmo5
employees on staff in order "bring more useful features to Google
Voice."

Just think about it: if Google can really nail VoIP, and somehow
provide it free of charge like it does with most of its services, the
phone companies could be in trouble. Granted, phone companies are
already seeing lots of disconnections as more and more people go to
cellphone-only setups, but if Google gets in the game, you know it'll
get even more interesting--and fast.